Apparatus for drawing wires and tubes

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for drawing wires and tubes which utilizes ultrasonic vibrational energy. An elongated energy transmission device having an axial bore therein is secured to the entry side of a drawing die, material to be drawn being inserted into the die through the bore. The end of the energy transmission device remote from the die is coupled to a vibration source which includes a plurality of resonance discs and means for changing the direction of vibration by 90*. Any desired number of ultrasonic energy devices are attached to the circumferences of the discs so that ultrasonic energy is generated radially and then turned to an axial direction of the die and transmitted to the die.

11l- United States atent 11 1 1111 3,863,484 Tsuji et al. Feb. 4, 1975 APPARATUS FOR DRAWING WIRES AND 3,212,312 10/1965 Boyd et al 72/60 TUBES 3,233,012 2/1966 Bodine u 3,657,910 4/1972 ISObC et al. [75] Inventors: liltoshl TSUJI; Takeshl Murayama;

Shigeo Kawahata; llsamu Komine; Primar y Exammer-Rwhard J. Herbst Satoshr lluzlwara, Mlklo Uekl, all of Assistant ExamineFJames Duzan Kawasakl Japan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flynn & Frishauf [73] Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha,

Kanagawa Ken, Japan [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1972 An apparatus for drawing wires and tubes which utilizes ultrasonic vibrational energy. An elongated en- [21] Appl' ergy transmission device having an axial bore therein is secured to the entry side of a drawing die, material [30] Foreign Application Priority Data to be drawn being inserted into the die through the Feb. 25, 1971 Japan 46-8987 bore- The end of the energy transmission device mote from the die is coupled to a vibration source 52 us. c1 72/2711, 72/60, 72/DIG. 20 which includes a plurality of resonance discs and 51 Int. (:1. B210 1/00 means for changing the direction of vibration y [58] 1216111 0f Search 72/274, DIG. 20, 56; Any desired number of ultrasonic energy devices are 310/32 attached to the circumferences of the discs so that ultrasonic energy is generated radially and then turned [56] References Cited to an axial direction of the die and transmitted to the UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,203,215 8/1965 Jones 72/253 8 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure APPARATUS FOR DRAWING WIRES AND TUBES This invention relates to an apparatus for drawing wires and tubes, which employs ultrasonic vibrational energy. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus wherein the amount of vibrational energy can be varied depending upon the size and quality of the materials being drawn.

in the prior art there has been described an apparatus for ultrasonic drawing of tubes and wires wherein a series of energy distribution devices, made of nickel ferrite or ceramic or the like, are fitted either directly or via a connecting member to the entry side of a die. However, the number of distribution devices which can be so fitted is limited and even if high power devices are used, the total amount of vibrational energy available is strictly limited and according to the present technology only suitable for use with tubes of thin wall or small diameter. In the prior art devices, it is necessary to arrange for cooling devices which also further restrict the available space around the periphery of the die, which tends to reduce operating efficiency.

lt is the purpose, therefore, of the present invention to provide an apparatus for drawing tubes and wires using ultrasonic vibrational energy, without the foregoing disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus in which an elongated energy transmitting device is provided with an axial bore.

The energy transmitting device is placed so that one end thereof abuts the feed end of a die so that material may be inserted into an aperture of the energy transmitting device and fed to the die. The other end of the energy transmitting device is coupled to a device for generating vibrational energy and for changing the direction of the vibrational energy which comprises a plurality of resonance discs attached to the circumference of which are a plurality of vibrational energy devices. Energy is transmitted from the vibrational energy devices to the die through the feed device.

The present invention is described in more detail hereinbelow, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which the single FIGURE is a longitudinal side sectional view illustrating the novel apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

ln the drawing, the reference numeral 1 denotes a die holder, 2 a spacer, 3 a die load cell, 4 a die, 5 a spacer and 6 a vibrational energy transmission or feed element, respectively. The tip portion of said transmission element 6 is attached to the die 4 by welding or other means such as a bolt and the like. The reference numeral 8 denotes an element for changing the direction of vibration of the ultrasonic energy waves which is provided with a number of resonance discs 9 in a multistage fashion perpendicularly in the axial direction thereof, and the tip portion thereof is connected to the rear end portion of the vibration transmission element 6 by means of the bolt 7. Thus, any suitable length and location for connection of the die 4, vibration transmission element 6 and element 8 for changing the direction of vibration may be selected so that they may be integrally actuated in a resonant state. Along the length and preferably at the center of said transmission element 6, bolt 7 and element 8 for changing the direction of vibration, identical diameter apertures 6a, 7a and 8a are provided. Tubes or wires to be drawn are fed through apertures 6a, 7a and 8a to the die 4 in the direction of the arrow 13 in the drawing. The diameters of the apertures 6a, 7a and 8a are preferably determined in accordance with the outer diameter of tubes and wires to be drawn, and it is preferable that at least the diameters of the apertures 6a, 7a and 8a are larger than the diameter of the die 4 at the delivery side.

Each of the resonance discs 9 is formed into a polygonal shape and to each side thereof devices 10 for distributing vibrational energy are rigidly fixed by means of bolts and the like. In this manner, when a plurality of devices 10 for distributing vibratory energy are fixed and actuated, the resonance motion of the resonance discs 9 in a radial direction as shown with the arrow II is changed to the axial direction in the element 8 and is transmitted to the die 4 as the synthesized resonance vibration in the axial direction at the transmission element 6 as shown by the arrow I2. Then, tubes or wires to be drawn are continuously inserted through the open end of the aperture 321 of the element 8, fed into the die 4, and drawn from the outlet of the die 4 by powered means (not shown). Resistance to deformation by drawing is remarkably reduced and the drawing rate is raised. The nose portions of the transmission element 6 are tapered and the element 6 is supported on the die holder 1, so that no excessive force is put on the element 8. Further, the synthesized vibrational energy to be transmitted to the die 4 can be freely selected by changing the number of the devices 10 for distributing vibrational energy fixed around the resonance discs 9 or by changing the number of the resonance discs 9. Therefore, it is possible to provide proper vibrational energy to the die 4 corresponding; to the material quality and the size of tubes or wires to be drawn. Furthermore, because the die 4 is connected to the element 8 for changing direction of vibration at the bolt portion 7, the change thereof is freely done.

An example embodying the novel apparatus of the present invention elaborated hereinabove is given below.

Example Material Size before drawing Carbon steel tube Carbon steel wire As is clear from the above Example, the novel apparatus in accordance with the present invention considerably improves the drawing rate, reduction of area and the like, and is preferably but not exclusively directed to drawing metals and the like.

As described hereinabove, the novel apparatus for drawing wires and tubes in accordance with the present invention is so contrived that resonance discs are provided in a multi-stage fashion in perpendicular relationship to an element for changing the direction of ultra sonic vibration which is provided with an axial bore and a plurality of radial apertures to the bore and a plurality of devices for distributing vibrational energy are attached to the circumferences of the resonance discs, so that it is possible to provide a large amount of vibrational energy to the die. Accordingly, the novel apparatus does not require a cooling apparatus and the like which is required when a number of devices for distributing large amounts of vibrational energy are fixed, and the space around the periphery of the die is not greatly restricted, thereby bringing about a very high efficiency. Further, it is possible to continuously feed tubes or wires to be drawn to the die through apertures, so that it is not necessary to move the apparatus each time when setting of tubes or wire to be drawn, further increasing efficiency. Moreover, the line from the element 8 to the die is in a resonant state, and there is no influence of a reflection wave or generation of transverse vibration, which further increases efficiency.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for drawing tubes and wires comprising: a drawing die (4) having an entry and an exit, and an opening defining a passage therebetween; a vibration source (8,9,10); an elongated energy transmitting device (6) secured to the entry side of said die (4) and coupling said vibration source (8,9,10) to said die (4), said energy transmitting device (6) being provided with an axial bore (6a) in the longitudinal direction thereof and in the axial direction of said die opening, through which material to be drawn may be fed to the entry of said die; said vibration source (8,9,10) including at least one vibrational energy source (9,10) for generating vibrational energy in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said axial bore of said energy transmitting device, and means (8) coupling said vibrational energy source (9,10) to said energy transmitting device (6) and for changing the direction of said vibrational energy by 90 so that the resulting vibrational energy is in the direction of said axis of said axial bore (6a) of said energy transmitting device (6), whereby substantially all of said resulting vibrational energy is imparted to said die in the direction of drawing of material through said drawing die (4).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibration source has a bore (8a) therethrough in the same axial direction as said axial bore (6a) of said elongated energy transmitting device (6) and aligned therewith.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibrational energy source (9,10) includes at least one disc (9) coupled to said direction changing means (8), and a plurality of ultrasonic vibration energy devices (10) mounted on the circumference of said at least one disc, said at least one disc being resonant at the vibrational frequency of said vibration energy devices.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising bolt means (7) coupling said direction changing means (8) to said elongated energy transmitting device (6).

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said bolt means (7) includes a bore (7a) therethrough in the same axial direction as said bore of said elongated energy transmitting device (6) and aligned therewith.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said direction changing means (8) has a bore (8a) therethrough in the same axial direction as said bore (6a) of said elongated energy transmitting device (6) and aligned therewith, said bore of said bolt means (7) being interposed and aligned therebetween.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said bolt means (7) includes a bolt oriented in the axial direction of said elongated energy transmitting device (6), all of said bores (6a, 7a, 8a) being on a common axis.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibrational energy is ultrasonic vibrational energy. 

1. Apparatus for drawing tubes and wires comprising: a drawing die (4) having an entry and an exit, and an opening defining a passage therebetween; a vibration source (8,9,10); an elongated energy transmitting device (6) secured to the entry side of said die (4) and coupling said vibration source (8,9,10) to said die (4), said energy transmitting device (6) being provided with an axial bore (6a) in the longitudinal direction thereof and in the axial direction of said die opening, through which material to be drawn may be fed to the entry of said die; said vibration source (8,9,10) including at least one vibrational energy source (9,10) for generating vibrational energy in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said axial bore of said energy transmitting device, and means (8) coupling said vibrational energy source (9,10) to said energy transmitting device (6) and for changing the direction of said vibrational energy by 90* so that the resulting vibrational energy is in the direction of said axis of said axial bore (6a) of said energy transmitting device (6), whereby substantially all of said resulting vibrational energy is imparted to said die in the direction of drawing of material through said drawing die (4).
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibration source has a bore (8a) therethrough in the same axial direction as said axial bore (6a) of said elongated energy transmitting device (6) and aligned therewith.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibrational energy source (9,10) includes at least one disc (9) coupled to said direction changing means (8), and a plurality of ultrasonic vibration energy devices (10) mounted on the circumference of said at least one disc, said at least one disc being resonant at the vibrational frequency of said vibration energy devices.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising bolt means (7) coupling said direction changing means (8) to said elongated energy transmitting device (6).
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said bolt means (7) includes a bore (7a) therethrough in the same axial direction as said bore of said elongated energy transmitting device (6) and aligned therewith.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said direction changing means (8) has a bore (8a) therethrough in the same axial direction as said bore (6a) of said elongated energy transmitting device (6) and aligned therewith, said bore (7a) of said bolt means (7) being interposed and aligned therebetween.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said bolt means (7) includes a bolt oriented in the axial direction of said elongated energy transmitting device (6), all of said bores (6a, 7a, 8a) being on a common axis.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibrational energy is ultrasonic vibrational energy. 